Mountain Summit Pre Game

The calm before the storm.  Heather Larson from the Wheeler and Peter Kenworthy, Executive Director of Mountainfilm made sure all the details were set.

Opening Night @ Mountain Summit

No opening night jitters for these guys at Mountain Summit.  (L to r) Robert Knight famed rock photographer and subject of Rock Prophecies, his wife Maryanne (also a pro photog.). director John Chester and 50 State Surfer , Stef Hunt.

The Farm

Peter Kenworthy greets Susan and Ashanti Witerspoon.  Ashanti spent 27 1/2 years on The Farm and is the inspirational star of The Farm and The Farm: 10 Down.   He's been a free man since 1999.

Big River Man

Martin Strel, a Solvenian and the World's most famous endurance swimmer with his Medical Advisor Kathy Daic.  BIG RIVER MAN is a must see, and you'll understand why Martin travels with his Doctor.  He's swum the Mississippi, the Yangtze and now the Amazon, plus he's a heavy drinker and a huge eater. 

The Cove

Q & A with Joe Chisholm (L) from THE COVE and David Holbrooke (festival director).  Chisholm from Boulder, was part spy, part logistics engineer and part movie star in The Cove.

It's only Rock and Roll

Robert M. Knight (second from left) shot pix of Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Elton and Led Zep among others in the 60's as a teenager.  His rock and roll career is profiled in the film ROCK PROPHECIES. Aspen's own Stewart Oksenhorn and Gram Slaton grilled (not really) Robert and Director John Chester.  You've seen some of his famous pix before (trust me) but click 'em at NikonRocker.com

Ed Viesturs

Ed Viestursis one of the top mountain climbers in History.  He's one of only 6 people to ever scale all the 8,000 ft peaks in the world without the aid of supplemental oxygen.  He also helped design Eddie Bauer's new line of extreme gear, First Ascent

Neal Beidleman

Aspen's own world class mountaineer Neal Beidleman brought the whole family out for Mountain Summit at the Wheeler. 

Pizza w/ the Boyz

Jonno Durrant and Stef Hunt, stars & film makers for Surfing 50 States  took time out for pizza with documentary director  John Chester (Rock Prophecies).  Surfing 50 States is a great gift for anyone interested in travel or surfing--buy it @ SURFING 50 STATES

Huge River Man

Martin Strel--The Big River Man with his son and business partner Borut engaged the crowd like no one else.

Amazon Swimmer

After swimming 3375 miles over 66 days in the world's most dangerous river, The Amazon, Martin deserved to sit down and sign some autographs

All Acess Pass

AspenSpin got donuts and coffee with the Rock Prophecies team,  Robert Knight & John Chester along with Mountain Summit director David Holbrooke.  We got plenty of inside info on Jeff Beck, the Stones, Elton John, Slash and others.  Robert only agreed to share his unbelievable stories of R & R royalty "off the record".  although he said we can use this "guitar players hate drum solos. Robert admitted "some people collect stamps, I collect Rock and Roll guitarists".  His latest protege is guitar prodigy Tyler Dow Bryant from Texas.

Jim Whittaker

Jim Whittaker the first American to summit Mt. Everest.  He was the first employee of REI, was tight with the Kennedys and helped design Eddie Bauer's First Ascent.

Top of the world

Jim Whittaker on top of the world,  29,028 ft 1963.

Ski Posse

Whittaker led this famous ski posse.  Teddy and Robert Kennedy and John Glenn the first man to orbit the earth.   No friends on a POWDER day, I guess they could keep up.

Whittaker in Aspen

Whittaker, a living legend met the fans and signed his book in the Eddie Bauer tent. 

Ashanti and Benny

Movie Star from The Farm and The Farm: 10 Down,  Ashanti Witherspoon took time out to meet with Aspen local Benny the Blade.

Hilaree Nelson-O'neill

Hilaree Nelson-O'neill one of the foremost alpinist/skiers in the world shared some siiiiiiiiiiick slides from some of her expeditions.  David Holbrooke handled the Q & A.

Carts of Darkness

A former Snowboard filmmaker, Murray Siple was partially paralyzed in a high speed auto accident.  He didn't let that stop him from pursuing his passion for making movies.  His film, CARTS of DARKNESS is an inside look at a group of homeless guys in Vancouver who collect bottles and ride the steep concrete hills in stolen shopping carts by day and drink their faces off at night.  SEE THIS MOVIE!!!

First Ascent by Eddie Bauer

Eddie Bauer is embracing their roots with First Ascent. EB's new line of gear is "guide built" (designed and tested by Whittaker and Viesturs among others), for extreme athletes.  First Ascent has already been to the top of Everest and it should be in stores this fall.  Ceci Lauerman and the team from First Ascent showing off the gear to Heather Gibson and Gram Slayton.  AspenSpin can't wait to give it a try in the deep deep POW on Ajax this season.

Little Rippers

Little Rippers, Nick and Cooper checking out some gear before a movie at Mountain Summit.

Surfing 50 States

The flick, Surfing 50 States was clearly a crowd favorite.  Stef Hunt and Jonno Durrant were intro'd by Gram slaton wearing an Everest suit from Eddie Bauer.  The boys got into the green room in all 50 States.  See their tale at Surfing 50 States

Crazy Aussies

Jonno and Stef won the crowd over with their movie, but lost a bet when the audience gave 'em a standing O.   The payoff-- Q & A in their skivvies.  Get the DVD at Surfing50States.com

Save the Planet

David Holbrooke precided over an important panel discussion with environmetalist Tim DiChristopher and conceptual artist Chris Jordan.  Tim did not set out to be an activist, but he's taking on the entire BLM.  The takeaway--: save the planet and every little bit helps.

Ashanti

Ashanti Witherspoon talked about his 27 1/2 years at The Farm listening to KLSP prison radio  a.k.a. "the incarceration station --- it kicks behind the bricks". Now he works hard as a motivational speaker to get a positive message out to "at risk" youth and inmates.

Renewed Vows

Brother Lee, an Aspen local helped Ashanti and Susan to renew their vows (on stage at the Wheeler) on their one-year aniversary. Ashanti's daughter looked on. 

"There's a lot of love in this room" declared an audience member.

The Toast

The Witherspoon's shared a toast of chocolate milk to honor their love.

First Ascent Everest Suit

Gram enjoyed the First Ascent Everest climbing suit by Eddie Bauer.  Retail price $999.  Do you want one?

Ocean Preservation Society

The Cove star, Joe Chisholm and his fiancee posed for A-spin.  Joe wanted to remind everyone to click on the Ocean Preservation Society site and get involved.

Going UP

Going Up.  Ed Viesturs field-testing the First Ascent gear.  Photo:  Curtesy of Eddie Bauer